michaelsmith Two stories have gathered momentum during this early part of a breezy, cold and grey week: An alleged e-mail sent from Manchester City CEO Garry Cook to a City player’s cancer suffering mother, and a fallacy relating to Steed Malbranque retiring from the game to care for his ‘ill son’.
In England, football fans often grumble about the owners of their club and the way it’s being run, many of us have witnessed or been involved in sit-in protests, but that is nothing compared to how Lazio’s Ultras feel about club President Claudio Lotito.
As a Watford fan I have got used to players and managers using my club as a stepping stone, but this time I thought it would be different.
Many ex-players move into management positions, they head back to clubs where they are legends, some succeed but the majority fail and end up damaging their reputations.
Last weekend’s defeat to Udinese looked like Lazio’s dream of getting the last Champions League place was over, but that has all changed now.
It was expected that Dublin would host an all-Portuguese final, but with Porto facing Benfica, instead it is plucky Braga against the champions of Portugal.
The tie of the round sees Villarreal travel to cup favourites Porto, whilst Braga make the short trip to Benfica in an all Portuguese tie.
The wait is finally over for the clash that every neutral wanted but most Manchester City fans had hoped to avoid especially as they will be without their talisman Carlos Tevez.